I want to evaluate our site to see if we can use a wind turbine to supplement our solar. Does anybody know where I can find a DataLogger that will record wind speed and direction to an SD card or any other removable media? I prefer this to wireless or recording to internal memory.
Maybe try a Raspberry Pi and simple Python script. I’ve used them in the past to record temperature and humidity. I’d guess it’s just a matter of finding a sensor.
For the testing i did 20 years ago , before i dove into just spending any real money , I found out that I needed my wind speed meter (purchased from store to show outside weather) and I had to have it 40 feet above trees to show a semi constant stream of wind. I did try to extend it to fifty feet but that's when the pipe broke and smashed the meter. the cost of the tower and height would of me having a light and the .Gov on my case. Sloth
You’re likely looking for more detail but this is what my $150 Ambient Weather system uploads to the internet. It also records solar radiation.
very similar to the system i used , the base unit had a SD card , but if power was lost the SD lost time or something. How high are the trees or the buildings to get clear flow ? S
Buddy of mine had a place on the very top of a mountain ridge here with almost no tree obstruction. He borrowed one for a month (February) from a local solar/wind place to see if he had a wind resource. His average was 8mph for the month, one of our windy'est , but had gusts in the 60-70mph at times. He was told you need 12mph average, so he went with solar only. I suspect few places east of the Mississippi have a good wind site.
I'd sure go solar for the bulk of my needs, but IF you have a decent wind site, maybe use a 1-2kw turbine as a supplement.
Interesting. I was told here anything under 200' was OK without a light. My internet tower is 120', right at the top of the mountain, and nobody has said anything about it for nearly 20 years now.
There are also wind resource maps that you can download for a good idea as to whether or not your site has enough wind. Here's one...Wind Resource Atlas https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML0609/ML060940383.pdf Here's one that actually works... Wind Resource Assessment and Characterization Actually, not that many places are a good wind resource. Most are better off with solar.
Most weather stations you can get, have all the latest in recording what's going on. My solar covers most of my summertime needs, the mill helps some. As for windmills, I have one along with my solar, to the end that 1. when it is overcast it is windy, so something is being generated, even if it's not a lot. 2. not every thing works at 100 percent and i accept that. My 600-watt mill never get's worked hard but that is to my advantage. If my needs exceed my solar / wind / battery bank, I have generators to compensate for greater needs as they arise. A small 5 hp Honda engine and automotive alternator for charging the battery bank, and a 6500-watt diesel generator for greater needs. Also, an engine-driven welder and engine-driven air compressor. these demand too much energy to be run from a generator for driving electric motors/ windings.
